13 September 2013

The Pain Game 2013 - per-game breakdown (East)

Having already looked at the Western Conference, below is a graphical breakdown of man-games lost to injury/illness (MGL) and the
corresponding cap-hit of each injured player (CHIP) across the entire
2013 (ir)regular season for each team in the Eastern Conference as was, along with the team's rolling/cumulative Fenwick 5v5 close.

Basically healthy over the first half (excluding the Savardian baseline), before a handful of injuries over the second. The dip in possession numbers over Games 36-41 does neatly coincide with Patrice Bergeron's absence.

Buffalo Sabres (MGL: 132, CHIP: $5,176k)

Game 28's OT loss to the Senators clearly the high point of the season.

Carolina Hurricanes (MGL: 167, CHIP: $6,897k)

A generally decent possession team, enough blue ink on the right-hand side of the chart to paint "Cam Ward is our only NHL goalie" in 10-foot high letters on the side of their building.

Florida Panthers (MGL: 325, CHIP: $10,136k)

More of a struggle over the last 10 games or so, when presumably a better quality group of overpaid third liners was out compared to the group of overpaid third liners that was out over the previous 20 games.

Montreal Canadiens (MGL: 132, CHIP: $2,654k)

Another team pretty much healthy over most of the first half of the season, although heroically overcoming the devastating absence of Tomas Kaberle in Game 4.

New Jersey Devils (MGL: 91, CHIP: $3,641k)

The enormous rising levels of red ink will surely begin to subside over the next season.

New York Islanders (MGL: 85, CHIP: $1,059k)

Freakishly, the blue bars are also a near-perfect representation of the cost of the DiPietro buyout over the next 48 years.

New York Rangers (MGL: 140, CHIP: $3,708k)

Who was injured when? None of your damn business. Next question.

Ottawa Senators (MGL: 229, CHIP: $10,055k)

Very injury-hit all season, but the middle stretch particularly notable - the heaviest patch of injuries, declining possession numbers, #1 goalie out, but still relatively successful.

Philadelphia Flyers (MGL: 312, CHIP: $10,239k)

All injury numbers subject to Pronger-inflation, but a noticeable second-half swoon/towel-throwing, in particular everyone associated with the team struggling to cope without Zac Rinaldo over the last 12 games.

Pittsburgh Penguins (MGL: 79, CHIP: $5,399k)

Whereas the absence of possession sink-hole Sidney Crosby over the Penguins' last 12 games had no noticeable effect whatsoever.

Tampa Bay Lightning (MGL: 152, CHIP: $5,468k)

I might have actually used the team save percentage for the red line here, on closer inspection...

Toronto Maple Leafs (MGL: 92, CHIP: $2,763k)

A lot of gritty play causing some injuries over the first half, then a lot of gritty play to protect their teammates, play through injury and/or a significant reduction in helmet heat over the second half.

Washington Capitals (MGL: 153, CHIP: $5,173k)

Who knows how much more successful the Capitals could have been had Tom Poti not been healthy for half the season?

Winnipeg Jets (MGL: 180, CHIP: $4,177k)

The likelihood of injuries presumably increased by the many extra miles logged due to the Jets' brutal travel schedule in the Southeast Division and the need to walk around Dustin Byfuglien to get out of the dressing room.